Charlotte's Web

Since its publication in 1952, Charlotte's Web has become one of America's best-loved children's books. For fifty years, this timeless story of the pig named Wilbur and the wise spider named Charlotte who saved him has continued to warm the hearts of readers everywhere. This 1953 Newbery Honor Book comes to life in a delightful unabridged recording, read lovingly by the author himself.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

The Trumpet of the Swan

Louis is a Trumpeter Swan, but he has no voice. Leaving his wild and beautiful home, he finds a young human friend, Sam Beaver, who helps him learn to read and write. When he returns to the lake, Louis discovers his education isn't enough: the beautiful swan he loves, Serena, can't read his declarations of love, and he can't trumpet them. Louis' resolution to win the swan of his desire launches him on an adventure that will take him far from home and lead where fate and love have a few surprises in store.

Matilda

"The Trunchbull" is no match for Matilda! Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It'll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!

The Ramona Quimby Audio Collection

Meet Ramona. She lives on Klickitat Street with her mother, father and big sister, Beezus. She’s not afraid of anything and is always up to something. And that’s just the beginning…. In this audio collection, join Ramona, one of Beverly Cleary’s most beloved characters, on all her wacky adventures!

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Ralph is not like the other mice at the Mountain View Inn. He is always looking for adventure. It is Ralph's lucky day when a young guest named Keith arrives with a shiny miniature motorcycle. Right away, Ralph knows that the motorcycle is special - and made to be ridden by an adventurous mouse. And once a mouse can ride a motorcycle...almost anything can happen!

Pippi Longstocking

If you’ve ever dreamed about a life of absolute freedom, you’ll love this book. First published in 1950, Pippi Longstocking has given generations of kids a vision of days free from chores, bedtime hours, and homework. Now Christina Moore’s delightful unabridged narration gives new life to Pippi’s unconventional, free-spirited adventures.

Magic Tree House Collection: Books 1-8

This audio collection includes the first eight stories from The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne; Dinosaurs Before Dark, The Knight at Dawn, Mummies in the Morning, Pirates Past Noon, Night of the Ninjas, Afternoon on the Amazon, Sunset of the Sabertooth, and Midnight on the Moon. Join Jack and Annie in advenutres in time and space!

Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter are now available as a downloadable, digital audiobook, complete and unabridged! The 23 tales in this set have never lost their popularity, and sell in their millions all over the world. Meet again the famous characters that children love and adore: Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, The Flopsy Bunnies, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Tom Kitten, Jeremy Fisher, Jemma Puddle-Duck and many more. These stories are beautifully brought to life by a talented cast of readers.

A Bear Called Paddington

Paddington Bear had traveled all the way from Darkest Peru when the Brown family first met him on Paddington Station. Since then their lives have never been quite the same... for ordinary things become quite extraordinary when a bear called Paddington is involved.

James and the Giant Peach

A little magic can take you a long way. After James Henry Trotter's parents are tragically eaten by a rhinoceros, he goes to live with his two horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. Life there is no fun, until James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree and strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Inside, James meets a bunch of oversized friends - Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, and more. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the great adventure begins!

The BFG

The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, or any of the other giants - rather than the BFG - she would have soon become breakfast. When Sophie hears that the giants are flush-bunking off to England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia

Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first her brothers and sister don't believe her when she tells of her visit to the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund, then Peter and Susan step through the wardrobe themselves. In Narnia they find a country buried under the evil enchantment of the White Witch.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

One of the best-known stories in American culture, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the imagination of young and old alike for over 100 years. Best Actress nominee Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married, Alice In Wonderland), fresh from filming one of this year’s most anticipated films, The Dark Knight Rises, lends her voice to this uniquely American fairy tale.

The Complete Chronicles of Narnia: The Classic BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisations

C.S. Lewis’s acclaimed and universally loved novels spring to life in these spellbinding full-cast BBC dramatisations. Anyone who’s visited Narnia wants to go back again, and these radio dramas make for a hugely entertaining first-time or return journey, with a cast including Bernard Cribbins, Maurice Denham, Richard Griffiths, Martin Jarvis, Sylvester McCoy, John Sessions, Fiona Shaw and Timothy Spall.

The Henry Huggins Audio Collection

Henry Huggins’s adventures are finally all in one location! Come join Henry on Kilckitat Street as he gets into hijinks – usually with the help of Ribsy and none other than Ramona Quimby. This collection includes: Henry Huggins, Henry and Beezus, Henry and Ribsy, Henry and the Paper Route, Henry and the Clubhouse, and Ribsy.

The Ralph S. Mouse Audio Collection

Ralph is not like the other mice at Mountain View Inn. He is always looking for excitement! Now all of his adventures are here in one audio collection! Includes: Mouse and the Motorcycle, Ralph S. Mouse, and Runaway Ralph

Because of Winn-Dixie

When 10-year-old India Opal Buloni moves to Naomi, Florida, with her preacher father, she doesn't know what to expect. She is lonely at first, that is until she meets Winn-Dixie, a stray dog who helps her make some unusual friends. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal begins to let go of some of her sadness and finds she has a whole lot to be thankful for.

Mary Poppins: The Mary Poppins Series, Book 1

Here is the timeless story of Mary Poppins, the world's favorite nanny, and her magical adventures with the Banks family. Mary Poppins is like no other nanny the Banks children have ever seen. It all starts when their new nanny is blown by the east wind onto the doorstep of the Banks house, carrying a parrot-headed umbrella and a magic carpetbag. She becomes a most unusual nanny to Jane, Michael, and the twins.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

The 1938 classic tells the story of Mr. Popper, the small-town housepainter who dreamed of exploring Antarctic regions, and Captain Cook, the redoubtable penguin who turned Mr. Popper's world upside down.

The Collected Stories of Winnie-the-Pooh

The Bear of Very Little Brain and his friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood have delighted generations of children since Winnie-the-Pooh was first published in 1926. This anniversary edition of Winnie-the-Pooh is the perfect way to celebrate the enduring popularity of A. A. Milne's classic work. Three cheers for Pooh!

Audible Editor Reviews

Why we think it's Essential: Many Audible listeners call this the best audiobook ever recorded. It is not just the timeless story of a girl, a pig, and a spider that makes this a treasure; the story is told by the author, with a raspy New England accent and a casual manner that recalls my best memories of being read to by a favorite grown-up. Warning: you may be an adult now, but that doesn't mean you won't cry as you listen. Beth Anderson

Publisher's Summary

Since its publication in 1952, Charlotte's Web has become one of America's best-loved children's books. For fifty years, this timeless story of the pig named Wilbur and the wise spider named Charlotte who saved him has continued to warm the hearts of readers everywhere. Now this class, a 1953 Newbery Honor Book, comes to life in a delightful unabridged recording, read lovingly by the author himself.

Also included is a retrospective essay by noted scholar Peter F. Neumeyer, read by George Plimpton, that gives an additional overview of the development and publication of the novel and its creators.

The Charlotte's Web 50th Anniversary Retrospective Edition is a keepsake that listeners of all ages will cherish.

What the Critics Say

"The book has liveliness and felicity, tenderness and unexpectedness, grace and humor and praise of life...that only the most highly imaginative stories seem to grow." (Eudora Welty, The New York Times Book Review) "White simply shares his story so intimately that adult listeners notice every nuance...For children the story of Wilbur and Charlotte will be sheer delight...White's story still has the power to mesmerize and teach us great lessons of friendship and life." (AudioFile)

I have listened to audio books for many years. In my opinion, this is the single best recording of all time. It combines a gentle, funny, and poignant story with a quiet, understated, but brilliant reader. E.B. White reads his own work in his slow Maine accent. I have heard this recording dozens of times over the years with my children, and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

I first had this book to read to me by the second grade teacher in 1966. I am still listening to it and it is still fresh to me and to my children. You can't go wrong with this one.

Would you consider the audio edition of Charlotte's Web to be better than the print version?

I don't think the audio version is better than the print version--but enjoyed listening to the author read the story that is well known to me. It was fun to hear how he imagined the different voices. I think Faith could have been better performed with a female voice.

The story is great! The way the file is set up is terrible. It was difficult to use in the classroom with small groups. The recording is not broken out into to chapters, so I had to fast forward and rewind to figure out where each group had left off. It wasted a lot of time. Very disappointing!

What did you like best about this story?

The story is great! The characters are wonderful and the children really enjoy the book.

Have you listened to any of E.B. White and George Plimpton ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I had access to vinyl LP's with the author reading this story and recorded them on tape many years ago. This was just as good (and, of course, the audio quality was even better). It's a timeless story and should be required reading (or listening) for anyone professing to be human. I may exaggerate a little, but not much. Either way, I highly recommend it.

This is an absolute delight. "Charlotte's Web" being one of those "crossover" bits of fiction that is as pleasing and winsome to adults as to children (perhaps moreso), we come to love the characters, and the descriptions of their lives that whisk us into a wonderful tale. Mr. White's ability to create engaging dialogue, to turn a phrase so that we want to hear it again, is most clear in this book. He was one of those rare authors able to captivate the listener by reading his work in his own voice, and this is a fine treat: a fun and exquisitely-written children's story, read to you with great and skillful enthusiasm by its author. A gem.

I'm sure I read this as a kid, but I really only remember the cartoon (or at least bits of it - I think it had really sad music) so when it was featured it on one of the sales, I snapped it up. I wasn't sure about the narration when it said 'read by the author' but quickly fell into the voice (and obvious enthusiasm for the story). What did I think? Phenomenal. Sometimes, when I go back and read a "classic" I'm left scratching my head as to why anyone, let alone nearly everyone, thought it was so great. Not this time. The writing was wonderful and funny and adorable and perfect. I can't say the same for all the details of the story, but a perfect story isn't much of a story after all. And because it's a children's story, I can see the lessons and character flaws are necessary. The best children's books are those that adults can read time after time without wanting to bash their heads in. This one's a gem, and I'm sure I'll find myself listening again and sharing it with the little ones in my life.

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